Perth Voice Interactive

ANYONE passing Perth Arena last week would think a pop star was in town, but the lines of adoring fans were there to see a singer who doesn’t actually exist: Virtual pop star Hatsune Miku.

“When Hatsune came out and began singing, a girl near me [started] sobbing,” long-time friend of the Voice Jennifer Motherway told us.

It was the first Australian “tour” of the virtual star, who is rendered in an animation on stage either via hologram or LED screen. Hatsune Miku doesn’t have a voice actor like older animated pop star characters: she’s a “vocaloid” with an artificially generated voice.

“I paid $196 for one ticket,” Ms Motherway says. “I’m shocked she came here, I just never imagined that the creators of Hatsune Miku would consider coming to Australia… she’s played in Tokyo, she’s played in LA, she’s played at Coachella. 

“Seeing Hatsune Miku in concert has always been on my bucket list. 

“I always imagined I would have to go to Japan, so I was going to pay whatever it took to see her, simply just to be there for the experience.”

Virtual characters like Hatsune Miku can be extremely profitable, making money for their creators through their music, sales of vocal software, merchandise and product endorsements. 

In Japan, where Hatsune Miku first rose to prominence after a Tokyo concert in 2010, much of her male fandom is characterised as being attracted to the character’s visual appeal. 

But the virtual singer is popular with women too, and many fans are into other elements of Japanese pop culture like anime and manga.

“Her songs are very catchy. 

“Her music is very fun,” Ms Motherway says. 

“She represents a happiness and a carefree sort of vibe that a lot of people enjoy.” 

Real pop stars can be messy. They can get depressed, or addicted to drugs, or make offensive statements. They also have relationships, and it’s been common for managers to try to hide their celebrity client’s dating habits for fear fans will be less interested if their idol is ‘off the market’.

“People like their pop stars, especially the female ones, to remain single,” Ms Motherway says. But as for Hatsune Miku, “she’ll never have a boyfriend. She can be anyone’s girlfriend.”

Fans also don’t seem to treat her much different just because she doesn’t exist. 

Ms Motherway says celebrities’ stage personas are also something of a created character: “[If] I see someone like Ariana Grande or Lady Gaga, in terms of a pop star, Hatsune Miku is just as real as those people to me.”

Hatsune Miku’s Japanese owners, Crypton Future Media, seemed to have some problems translating the Voice’s questions, so we’re not sure what prompted her Aussie ‘tour’ and whether she’d be back again.

If she does ever return, Ms Motherway reckons her fans will only have grown in number after word spreads of Tuesday’s show.

“The atmosphere at the concert was amazing. 

“Everyone was really lovely to each other, because we all have this shared interest that’s a bit niche.”

by DAVID BELL